Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie – some may argue it’s the best meal of the year! However, holidays can be a hectic time whether you’re hosting, traveling, cooking or planning. There’s so much preparation that goes into the holiday. With so many things on your mind, it leaves room for errors and accidents.
Thanksgiving Safety Tips to Avoid Mishaps
Organize with lists
Organize yourself with lists. By visually writing everything down or using the notes app in your phone, it helps eliminate the stress of trying to remember everything to do. When you have a lot on your mind is when accidents happen. Planning ahead and not waiting until the last minute can alleviate stress.
- If you’re traveling, make a to-do list of everything you must do and pack before you leave the house. This way you can visually cross off tasks to make sure you don’t forget anything.
- If you’re cooking, make a list of all the groceries you need and what dishes you’re going to make on each day if you’re able to prep ahead of time.
- If you’re hosting, make a list of all the to-do’s around the house and plan it out by day if you’re able to tackle some tasks ahead of time.
Protect your house while traveling
Before you leave overnight or for the long weekend, check all doors, windows, and entrances are locked. If you have smart devices, they can provide an extra layer of protection and peace of mind while you’re away.
- Security cameras allow you to keep an eye on your house and be notified if there is any activity while you’re away. Porch pirates? Not so fast – video could come in handy.
- If someone is stopping by to check on a pet or do a task at your house, having a smart lock allows you to unlock the door from your phone remotely when they arrive instead of giving them or hiding a key.
- Smart lights can be programmed to come on during the day or night to make it appear someone is home.
- Smart thermostats have programs to not only monitor the temperature in your house but monitor for smoke, carbon monoxide, and moisture.
Imagine coming home from being away for the holiday and you find a pipe burst causing excessive amounts of water damaging your house. That’s a nightmare. Now, imagine if you got a notification that moisture levels in your house were higher than normal and you could catch the leak before it got worse. Although smart technology can be a larger initial investment, the benefits make life pretty convenient.
If you’re traveling by car, plan ahead for traffic during busy travel days and pack your patience. Leave with extra time so you’re not rushed. Pack extra snacks and car toys for kids just in case you hit delays. At the end of the day, always remember to drive sober and be alert for other drivers.
Cooking safety in the kitchen
Cooking the Thanksgiving meal can be a lot of responsibility. Bonus if multiple cooks tackle the meal together! Always be careful of hot surfaces and sharp objects. Especially if kids are helping in the kitchen, give them a task that is away from the oven, stove, and sharp knives. No one wants to take a trip to the hospital on their holiday.
Always be mindful of cross contamination when cooking multiple dishes. Wash your hands, sanitize surfaces and wash used dishes after handling raw meat to avoid salmonella.
Make sure there is a charged fire extinguisher in the kitchen, and you know how to properly use it. You never know when something could get out of hand.
P.A.S.S. Fire Extinguisher Method
Remember the phrase P-A-S-S if you attempt to put out a small fire with an extinguisher.
P – Pull the pin of the extinguisher;
A – Aim low. Point the extinguisher nozzle at the base of a fire;
S – Squeeze the handle;
S – Sweep from side to side at the base of the fire. If the fire re-ignites, repeat the process again.
Keep yourself and loved ones safe this holiday season. Reach out to a local Rural Mutual agent to make sure your home and family is protected.
